Farm406

farm406 26 Organic peas in bloom. Once the Ingredient suppliers are in place, the next step is to expand to secondary processing such as creating customer- made human food and animal feed intermediate products for preparation of livestock, poultry, pet, and human products. Examples of secondary processors are those who make pea flour to sell to food manufacturing companies, but at the same time, they might also sell their flour on retail markets. N E X T S T E P : " S E C O N D A R Y P R O C E S S O R S " Because the number of processing plants in the Northwest are so limited, the time is right for expanding the pulse industry into North Central Montana. Recently the Great Falls Development Authority was given a grant by the Montana Department of Agriculture's Montana Pulse Crop Commiee to create a Pulse Crop Quality and Innovative Council of those involved, or who wish to be involved, in supporting outreach efforts to develop and to expand pulse value-added industries. "Along with the wheat and barley ag processing companies we already have, it is my hope that at least one pulse processing company will come to North Central Montana within the next eighteen months," said Sporkin-Morrison. "One pulse processing company will bring in others. For this to happen, we must be ready to tell our story of the many benefits for building pulse-processing plants in this region. e availability of both pulse and wheat commodities will be a major part of the story." A N E E D F O R I N G R E D I E N T S U P P L I E R S A N D S E C O N D A R Y P R O C E S S O R S I N N O R T H C E N T R A L M O N TA N A An open-air exhibition of North Central Montana is planned to showcase North Central Montana's position for raising and processing pulses to those who have, or plan to have, an investment in the various steps in pulse production. Updated information on this event will be found on the Great Falls Development Authority Website under "Events" at hps://growgreatfallsmontana.org/. S H O W C A S I N G P U L S E P R O D U C T I O N I N N O R T H C E N T R A L M O N TA N A peas is 22 percent, but the protein value of the fractionated product can be as high as 85 percent. Ingredient suppliers can sell to food, feed, and pet food manufacturers; exporters; and also brokers who resell processed pulse commodities to secondary processors. Reports project that the demand for pea protein concentrates will rise 11.3 percent through 2020 but will rise even higher to 15 to 20 percent during the 2020s. Any ingredient-supplying companies will have jobs for the local labor force and bring in high-wage professional workers, such as system engineers and chemists. is level of wage earner is seeking quality of life that North Central Montana offers, such as almost no daily commute, good schools, and outstanding recreational opportunities. Montana products also offer a mystique sought by retail customers. Photo Courtesy of Montana Department of Agriculture

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